video

Two videos this week - one from Sean Smith, the (in)famous Fat Paddler in Manly and the other from Adam Fahey in Mandurah, WA...  Both showing the paddlers having fun in waves.  

Despite the un-video-friendly conditions (low light/foggy), Rambo did a great job of this one.  Look out for the flying ski in the surf at the start...!  

Trees blown down on powerlines, roofs ripped off buildings, yachts blown ashore...  Downwind time in Sydney, Australia!

If you're ever on the water in Sydney Australia, and you see a large red blob thrashing its way towards you on a surfski, odds are that it's the famous (or is it infamous?) Fat Paddler... It was my privilege to meet the Fat Paddler a few weeks ago - thrashing its way across the crystal clear blue waters of Mauritius and this week's video is the story of how FP and his PO (Propaganda Officer) found themselves about to be crushed by the notorious monster waves of Le Morne...

This is a great little video from the Epic training centre in Tarifa, Spain.  What stands out for me is the look of the conditions - beautifully shaped, big waves, cracking downwind...  

Here's a great little clip from Vancouver, Canada.  I'm not sure who the paddlers are but I think I recognise a certain Think-er in there and I'm guessing Bob Putnam is on the water too.

Cape Town is one of the best surfski spots in the world.  In summer the southeaster howls; in winter the northwesters storm - and we go downwind.  Never too cold, never too hot, we paddle the year round. 

Ivan Lawler narrates this cool video which introduces our sport...  If anyone asks you what surfski paddling is all about, send them the link...

Wednesday afternoon and I’m sitting at my desk watching the live data from the weather station on Roman Rock lighthouse.  It’s 15m/s SE (30kt or thereabouts)...  I sneak out of the office early...

[Editor: This is the first of what will become a regular feature; Route Notes that describe a favourite paddle.] For those downwind paddling addicts living in the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, the Millers Run is the default route in summer when the southeaster blows.  Here are some notes on how and when to do it.